She says her son “was pulled out of the toilet head-first at about 16:00 (14:00GMT) on Wednesday”, having gone missing two hours earlier.

Police say the boy’s aunt called for help when her own search failed.

“His aunt took off his clothes and left him to relieve himself outside the toilet as usual. She was busy with her house chores when she noticed she had not seen the toddler for some time,” police spokesperson Constable Maphure Manamela said.

A police inquiry is now under way.

What are pit latrines?

Image copyrightGallo

Image caption
Michael Komape died in this pit latrine at his primary school in 2014

Pit latrines, sometimes called long-drop toilets, are a type of toilet that collects faeces in a hole in the ground. They are classed as basic sanitation.

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